Grab your bike or your hikers and head out to Cascade Trestle Tour! It’s time for an easy hike or bike that will take you to great views of the Kettle River at key locations!
ACCESS: From Highway 3 just west of Christina Lake, take Highway 395 south toward the US. About 1.4 km from Highway 3, look for a parking area on the left (east side).
HIKE/BIKE: We have two destinations today. First, carefully cross the highway and follow the Trans Canada Trail west to the Cascade Gorge. In about 15 minutes of walking, you'll come to a trestle bridge with a view of the cascading torrent of the Kettle River - at this time of year the water is low enough that you can see how the powerful energy of the water shaped the rocks below you. Once you've enjoyed this view, head back to the highway, and carefully cross it to take the Trans Canada Trail east for about 30 minutes, to another even bigger trestle bridge. This one spans the Kettle River at an immense height. Take a moment and reflect on the beauty of the Kettle River winding it’s way down through the Boundary into the United States of America.
EXPLORE FURTHER: Continue along the Trans Canada Trail as it gently climbs up toward Santa Rosa Road where you’ll see some beautiful viewpoints of Christina Lake along the way. Near Fife Road, look for remnants of the old townsite, although a bit hard to spot in the summer growth! Then enjoy the ride or walk back down to your starting point.
This trail is located mostly within the Gilpin Grasslands Provincial Park. It is on a southfacing slope, so there is plenty of spring sunshine, making it one of the season's first trails dry enough to hike.
ACCESS: Take Highway 3 approximately 9 km East of Grand Forks to Gilpin Creek Forest Service Road (north side of the highway). Take the turn, go over the cattle guard and follow the road about 1 km to a parking lot with pit toilet.
HIKE/BIKE: From the parking area, follow the road up the hill over another cattle guard, and look for the trail immediately on the right. The park was created to protect a distinctive grassland ecosystem and maintain essential habitat for species-at-risk, including bighorn sheep. Look for them in the rocks above the trail, along with coyotes, deer, elk, gopher snakes and rattlesnakes. Listen for meadowlarks and look for the pretty mountain bluebird and western bluebird. Wild roses and prickly pear cactus dot the landscape, along with saskatoon berry bushes. This moderate trail is 5 km one-way, going over bridged creeks and past burned landscape. Suitable for walkers, runners, and cyclists.
Explore further! Start at the eastern end - look for a small pullout off Highway 3 and take the trail in reverse direction. You can also follow the Trans Canada Trail on the south side of the highway - there's a steep access down to a small parking area just west of Gilpin Creek Forest Service Road.
Steep sections at the start eventually level out to rolling hills while following the north-eastern shoreline of the lake. Giant cedar trees and great views. If you still have energy at Trapper Creek, a steep trail heads down to a marine campsite and swimming spot, adding 1.2 km to the hike length.
The 1.7% grade makes this trail family-friendly. Walk the historical rail bed, past mountainsides, curious small caves and other historical relics found dotted along the way. Great birdwatching can be had with trees lining the path on either side.
Hike Our Story, an interactive scavenger hunt, began on May 1st highlighting Bundschuh / Larry's Trail in the Gilpin Grasslands. We received twenty-one entries into our draw for one of our great prizes sponsored by Work n’ Play Clothing, Boundary Country Regional Chamber of Commerce, Grand Forks Beer Co. and WildWays Adventure Sports & Rentals. Mike Elliott was the winner of the first draw and received a $40 gift certificate to Work n’ Play Clothing. The Grand Forks Community Trails Society and Grand Forks & District Recreation released the second hike of four on Thursday, June 1st!
Lost Lake/Harpold Trails is a lovely trail system that can keep you exploring for days. In June you'll be amazed by the blooming saskatoon bushes, followed by the lightly scented mock orange.
Click here for the GF Rec Trails Brochure
This heritage rail trail follows the Granby River south. From the parking area, follow the trail along the river. At 1 km mark, look for a public access trail to the river for swimming and fly-fishing. Watch for osprey and eagles. The trail ends 30 m above the river on the edge of a steep precipice, now fenced, that is the footing of the CPR trestle. The view is breathtaking and the artifacts amazing but keep away from the edge approaching the end of the trail.
This gentle trail passes through forests and grasslands with spectacular valley views. Flowers are everywhere, and look for bird nest boxes, water troughs and old fruit trees that still provide, from the Vancouver Victoria & Eastern Railway days. Spring melt can create some muddy sections so wear boots.
There are two trailheads for this hike - most common choice is the western point. Park at Saddle Lake and walk south to the trailhead, then follow the trails up the mountain. You can climb straight up, or take a series of switchbacking bike routes.
The eastern trailhead is off Hardy Mountain Road, about 750m west of North Fork Road. Park on the roadside and look for the trailhead on the left. This is a grind! Climb nearly 300m over 1.4 km!
This is a beautiful new trail system built with mountain bikers in mind but appealing to hikers too.
ACCESS: From Grand Forks, drive just past the 10 km marker on North Fork Road, and look for a gravel road called Old North Fork Road to the left (west). Take that for about 1 km, and park where it meets Fisherman Creek Forest Service Road. Maps are being developed of this new system, so until they're up, orient yourself by noting the powerlines that head up toward the Trans Canada Trail, which parallels Old North Fork Road. If you get lost, look for the power lines and follow them down to where you parked. Make sure you're carrying water and a snack too. Hikers can start with the trail on the right side of Fisherman Creek; cyclists can start on the left. Both will take you partway up the hill and connect you to the mountain biking trails network on the hillside, offering views and fun routes of varying technical levels. Those seeking respite from the summer heat can continue up the trails or road until it meets the Trans Canada Trail. Look for a trail marker on the west side of the trail that will take you to Fisherman Falls and dip your toes in the icy waters for a refreshing break. Allow 90 minutes to two hours return for this moderate hike.
Explore further!
Once you've refreshed yourself at Fisherman Falls, take the Trans Canada Trail north about two kms to the Fisherman Tunnel and Sectionman Shed - both historic relics from the CPR days. This is an easy walk or cycle. On your bike? Continue onto to the next tunnel, then enjoy the easier downslope on your way back. Make a day trip by starting your bike ride from Grand Forks - it's about 25 km one way from Grand Forks to the Eholt Summit, all on a level gravel surface. It's a bit rough in spots but take it slow and enjoy the great views over the valley. In fall, the golden larch trees are a local favourite.
Maps (very hard to find!)
Known locally as the Grand Forks Grind, this trail "to the star" climbs 260m over about 2 km, with various options for making it a loop, adding length and difficulty. Park either at the top of 2nd Street, or at the Public Works building at the end of 8th Street (turn north onto 7th from Central, turn west on 76th Avenue, then take 8th north to the green works building and park there). From either spot you can hike the steep climb to the Perepelkin Bench, followed by the trail to the star. From the works yard you can take the Sunshine Trail
- a steep climb with nonstop-views. Wear good boots no matter what route you take, carry water, and watch for snakes. At the top of Observation, the star provides memorable and iconic viewpoints of the Kettle Valley and City below.
This route takes you to the peak of Goat Mountain, featuring wildflowers and views of the North Fork Valley and Grand Forks. The 2.5 kilometre trail (one-way) climbs 500 meters through open meadows and forests, sometimes following old railroad, mining and logging access roads and trails. While not busy, it's well used and easy to follow. There is a short section on a road; the trail continues about 300m along on the right as you go uphill.
The trailhead parking area is 5.2 kilometers north of Highway 3 on the North Fork Road. Follow the trail up to the North Fork section of the TransCanada Trail. Once you are at the TCT turn right (north) and you'll almost immediately come to the Goat Mountain trail heading up on your left.
This is a lovely wildflower-filled destination in spring, when the Marshall Lake cross-country ski network offers several options for hiking to the Dacha. There you'll get spectacular views of the Kettle Range of the Monashee Mountains that surround Grand Forks. Each intersection is well signed. Take the trail of your choice up to the Dacha, but return by the eastern leg of Grandview where another breathtaking viewpoint awaits. Parking is at the 10 km point of Phoenix Mountain Road, just east of Eholt Summit, halfway between Grand Forks and Greenwood. Keep straight on this gravel road until you see the cenotaph; at that point, take the right fork down to the lot where you'll find a helpful map on the kiosk.
Grand Forks & District Recreation Office 2020 Central Avenue, Grand Forks, B.C. V0H 1H0
Hours: 8am - 4pm, Mon-Fri
Mailing Address: Box 1486, Grand Forks, B.C. V0H 1H0
Recreation Office / Arena - 250.442.2202